Meaning & History
Vira is a given name predominantly used in Ukrainian and several other Slavic languages. It is a cognate of Vera 1, a name that means "faith" in Russian and is sometimes associated with the Latin word verus meaning "true."
Etymology
Vira shares the same origins as Vera, being derived from the Russian word вера (vera) for "faith." This connection ties the name to the Christian virtue of faith, which became popular as a given name in the 19th century. In Ukraine, the name Vira, along with Nadiya and Lyubov (the other two key virtues, hope and love), form part of a triad of names derived from theological concepts.
Notable Bearers
- Vira Ageyeva (born 1958), Ukrainian literary critic and philologist
- Vira Chorny-Meshkova (born 1963), Ukrainian poet and translator
- Vira Lozinsky (born 1974), Israeli-Moldovan musician and Yiddish language singer
- Vira Misevych (1945–1995), Soviet-Ukrainian equestrian
- Vira Silenti (1931–2014), Italian actress
- Vira Ulianchenko (born 1958), Ukrainian politician and activist
- Vira Vovk (born 1926), Ukrainian-language writer
Cultural Significance
While the name Vira is predominantly used in Ukrainian contexts, its variant forms appear across many Slavic cultures: Vera in Russian, Swedish, and other languages; Viera in Slovak; Vyara in Bulgarian; Vjera in Serbian; and Verica also in Serbian. The Czech version is Věra. This diversity underscores the widespread association of the name with faith across Christian cultures in Eastern Europe.
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Vira (given name)